Illuminated sign.



4 R. K. WITZ.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

APRLIQATION FILED AUG-17. 191a.

Patented Oct. 17,1916,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- g l w j v Z/Znsses R. K. WITZ.

ILLUMINATED SIGN. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17 m5.

' Patented 00f.- 17',191a

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Inventor fiaiarz/zzfiz UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

ROBERT K. WITZ, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Application filed August 17, 1915. Serial No. 45,855.

tions and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the accompanying claims.

The invention has for its purpose to provide an apparatus for displaying a central sign, or signs, with marginal bordering signs wherein the casing for the central sign serves as a reflector for its own illumination and as a supplemental reflector for illuminating the several marginal signs in addition to their illumination proper. And in which the central and marginal displaying features may be readily changed.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide a changeable sign exhibitor which 'is wholly self-contained and readily portable; with the main or central sign part forming an independent unit adapted for convenient attachment to the structure; and

having the marginal signs in the form of slides that may be readily moved into and out of position, and which areheld in interlocked relation when assembled.

The invention is shownby way' of illu's the apparatus, Fig. 2 a rear elevational view of the frame or front of the sign removed from the body, Fig. 3 aside elevational view of the apparatus with the body in section, and partly broken away for clearness, Fig. 4 a detailed side elevational view of the frame or front of the sign showing the manner of attachment to the body, Fig. 5 a similar view showing the manner of attaching the central sign to the frame or front, Fig. 6 a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, Fig. '7 a fragmentary sectional View of the front panel ofthe central sign, Fig. 8 a fragmentary view showing the lamp for illuminating the border signs, and Fig. 9 an enlarged detail sectional View taken on the line 99 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the construction in further detail and wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the different views, the apparatus consists of'a casing 1 providing a housing having an upwarly and rearwardly inclined open face, and its bottom wall 2 is formed with an angular flange portion 3 whose edge is adapted to be engaged by the pair of flanges 4 formed on the lower edge of the frame 5 that formsa closure for the open front of the housing.

The frame 5 has a central'opening-and is constructed with a boxing 5 and formed with a rectangular ledge 6 and surrounding said opening" a plurality of pairs of flanges 6, 7, 8 and 9 are formed to provide means for holding a plurality of slides 10 and 11 that are slidable therein, after the manner shown in Fig. 2, and which form marginal exhibitors. Each of said exhibitors consists of a plate 10 carrying the matter to be displayed and a retaining plate 11 (see Fig. 6) of translucent material that is co-extensive with the display plate and immediately overlies the same for its entire length. ,Thfi central opening of the frame is adapted to be closed by a casing 12 of preferably that design shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, and which is mounted within the flange 6 by means of a flange18 formed on said frame adjacent the lower edge of the central opening. Said flange acts as a support for the casing 12 and said casing is held in closed position by means of a pair of eye-screws 14 mounted on the frame and engaged by a pair of hooks 15 that are 2). A finger piece 16 is suitably fastened to the casing in order that said casing may be conveniently handled, as will be understood.

The front marginal edges of the casing 12 are flanged to provide a suitable recess or pocket that receives the sign sheet 17 that is held between the two plates of glass 18, and the arrangement is such that the sign sheet, together with the glass plates, may be conveniently removed for replacing with a difierent sign, as will beunderstood. And, in like manner, the plates 10 and 11 may be readily removed for the insertion of slides of other descriptions.

It is proposed to provide an arrangement for holding the marginal slides in a manner which will prevent their displacement and to guard against undue vibration or shaking, and to this end the outer member of the pair of flanges 8 is of greater length than the 'pivotallymounted on the casing (see Fig.

corresponding flange of the pair 9, and said flanges 9 and the top pair of flanges 6 are 'must themselves be first taken out before said upper and lower pairs of slides can be replaced.

An incandescent lamp 17 is mounted within the casing 12 and, together with said casing, forms a complete unit; and another incandescent lamp 18 suitably mounted on a bracket 19 within the casing, serves to illuminate the marginal signs. The inner surfaces 20 of the casing walls are constructed to provide a reflector, and both the inner and outer surfaces of the casing 12 likewise form reflectors to the end that a high de gree of illumination will be obtained for the central and surrounding signs. The lamps 17 and 18 are suitably wired as by 21 and 22, and a coupling 23 connects the latter with the circuit of the former and has an extension 24 adapted to be used when it is desired that the central sign shall exhibit by flashes after the well known manner.

It is obvious that those skilledin the art may vary the details'of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore I do not wishto be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In an illuminating sign apparatus the combination of a housing, a frame detachably mounted on the housing having a central opening and marginal signs surrounding said opening, a flange secured to the frame adjacent the lower edge of said opening, a detachable casing having a sign supported by said flange and fitted to close said central opening, a device located adjacent the upper edge of the opening for holding the casing in closed position, and means for illuminating the signs, substantially as set forth. I

2. In an illuminating sign apparatus the combination of a housing, a frame mounted on the housing and having a central opening, a flange secured. to the frame adjacent the lower edge of said opening, a casing having a sign supported by said flange and fitted to close said central opening, hook and eye members mounted on said frame and casing adjacent the upper edge of said opening for holding the casing in closed position,

and means for illuminating the sign, substantially as set forth.

3. In an illuminating sign apparatus the combination of a housing, a frame mounted on the housing and having a central opening, the frame surrounding said opening provided with slide-ways, slides having signs mounted in said slide-ways, a casing having a sign removably mounted on the frame at said central opening, and means for illuminating said casing sign and the slide signs, substantially as set forth.

4. In an illuminating sign apparatus the combination of a housing having an open front, a frame removably mounted on the casing, said frame having a central opening and formed with slide-ways surrounding said opening, slides having signs mounted in said slide-ways, a casing removably mounted on the frame and closing said opening, means carried by said casing for removably holding a sign, and means for separately illuminating the casing sign and the slide signs, substantially as set forth.

5. In an illuminating sign apparatus the combination of a housing having an open front, a frame removably mounted on the casing, said frame having a central opening and formed with flanges providing plate holders, plates slidably mounted on said flanges and adapted to carry signs, a casing removably mounted on said frame and closing the opening, means carried by said casing for removably holding a sign, means located in said casing for illuminating the sign thereof, meanslocated in the housing for illuminating the slide signs, the inner surface of said housing providing a reflector, and the inner and outer surfaces of said casing providing reflectors for said casing sign and the slide signs respectively, sub stantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at \Vashington, District ofColumbia,this sixteenth day of August, A. D. nineteen hundred and fifteen.

ROBERT K. wrrz. 1.3.

Witnesses H. H. BYRNE,

E. S. CLEMENTs. 

